Vehicle chassis



May 9, 1944. c. E. SCHULING VEHICLE CII-IASS'IS Filed Oct. 28, 1945 17106142507 (5a rZes E W Patented May 9, 1944 UNITED STAT ES FATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a chassis for :a tractor vehicle and in particular to such a chassis constructed to support a hitch portion at its rear end adapted to be connected with a trailer vehicle.

The use of trailers of either house or general utility type with passenger automobiles is now common practice. In many instances the trailer bitch .on the automobile is carried directly on the rear bumper, or .is supported on a draw bar connected between the rear bumperand the rear portion of the automobile chassis. As a result the pulling 'of the "trailer and, where a two-wheel trailer is used, a part of :the load on the trailer is .applied on parts not initially .designed or contemplatedto be used ,forsuch purpose. The pulling of a trailer under these circumstances is, of course, ahazardousoperation because of the-great possibility of the breakage of these partsand resultant damage to the trailer or to persons and property which might be struck bya run-away trailer.

A further objection to "the support of a trailer hitch on an automobile'in'thismanner is found in the fact that the hitch support generally detracts from the appearance of the automobile when it is operated without a trailer.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a chassis for a tractor vehicle having a trailer hitch support constructed as an integral part thereof.

IA. further object of this invention is to provide a chassis for a tractor vehicle having a hitch support which provides for a maximum of safety in the pulling of a trailer.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a chassis for an automobile having a hitch support which is of a rugged construction and which does not detract from the appearanc of the automobile when a trailer is disconnected therefrom,

Further objects, featuresand advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective plan view of the rear portion of an automobile showing its neat appearance with the chassis construction of this invention, when a trailer is disconnected from the automobile;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the rear end of an automobile chassis showing the rear bumper and a rock shield and the location of the hitch-supporting structure relative to these parts; and

PHI

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken along the line 33 in Fig. 2.'

With reference to the drawing there is shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the rear portion of an automobile body 5 of usual type, having a rear bumper 6 spaced rearwardly from the body 5 and a rock shield or fender "1 extended between the body and the bumper in a well known manner. The shield I is connected to the bumper by means including a center bumper bolt i3 which is extended through the bumper and a depending ear 9 formed on the shield I. A knock-out portion II is generally provided on the shield i adjacent the bolt 3, which on being knocked out permits extension therethrough of a hitch portion I2 for support on a structure located below the rock shield. The structure thus far described is of a generalls standard construction and forms no part of the present invention.

The chassis construction of :this invention providing for the rigid support of the trailer hitch portion on a supporting structure located within the confines of the bumper 6 and below the rock shield I is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Referring to Fig. 2 the chassis is illustrated as including the usual spaced longitudinal side beams I3 which are of a channel construction, and a channel beam I i extended between the beams I3 and connected with corresponding rear ends IS of the beams I3. The bumper 6 is supported on the longitudinal members I3 by brackets or braces I5. Formed as a part of the chassis is a rear frame unit, constituting the support for the hitch portion I2, and comprising an angularmember I? of a channel construction having each of its ends I8 connected to a corresponding rear end It of a longitudinal beam I3. The member I'I extends rearwardly of the beams I3 substantially in the plane of the beams I3 and the lateralbeam It with the lateral beam I4 constituting a base for the angular member H. The angularity of the member !'I and the length of its side portions Na and Ho are such that the apex I8 thereof is located adjacent the inner side of the bumper 6 substantially centrally of the beams It or at the longitudinal central axis of the chassis.

A brace or supporting member iii of a channel construction is inverted and extended longitudinally of the chassis at its central axis and secured at one end ZI to the transverse beam I4. As shown in Fig. 3 the supporting member I9 is spaced upwardly from the lower side 23 of the angle member I'I. At the apex portion I8 and between the upper side 24 of the angle member I! and the upper side of the supporting member I9, at its end 22, there is interposed a triangular plate member 26 the angularity of which corresponds to the angularity of the member i1. Thus as clearly appears in Fig. 3 the parts of the members l'i, supporting member l9 and plate 26 at the apex portion l8 are in a superposed relation. The plate 26 is secured to the supporting member l9 by rivets or the like 21 and to the angular member l! by rivets or the like 28. In alignment with the knock-out portion l I in the rock shield 'l is an opening 29 vertically extended through the upper side 24 of the member I! at its apex portion l8 and through the plate member 26 and supporting member !9.

The hitch portion I2 is of ball type with a shank 20 extended through the aligned openings II and 29 with the ball 3| thereof having a diameter greater than the diameter of the opening 29 so as to limit the downward movement of the hitch portion I2 and to provide for the engagement of the ball with the top side 24 of the member H. The lower portion of the shank 29 is threaded for threadable engagement with a corresponding nut 32 which, on being tightened, engages the supporting member l9 to rigidly hold the hitch portion l2 on the rear frame unit in a manner which is believed to be obvious. It is seen, therefore, that the rear frame unit is of an integral construction with the chassis of the automobile and of a rugged construction to provide for a positive and sturdy support of a trailer (not shown) which is adapted to be connected to the hitch portion l2,

To further supplement the rigidity of the rear frame unit the angle member I! at the vertical side thereof at the apex portion I8 is formed with an opening 33 which is in alignment with the center bumper bolt 8 and adapted to receive such bolt therethrough. Thus on tightening of the nut 34 for the bolt 8 the rear frame unit is further supported on the bumper 6.

From a consideration of the above description it is seen that the rear frame unit, which constitutes the support for the hitch portion l2 and in turn for the trailer which is to be connected thereto, is located entirely within the confines of the bumper 6 and below the rock shield 1 in a manner to provide for the ball 3! being located above the top level of the shield 1 and the bumper 6. Rigidity of the rear frame unit is accomplished by virtue of its connection with the longitudinal beams l3, the lateral beam l4 and the bumper 6. On disconnection of the trailer from the hitch portion l2, the hitch portion is readily removed, by simply releasing the nut 32, so that there is no evidence on the automobile of its adaptation for connection with a trailer. Although the angular member I! has been described as being comprised of a single member having its ends connected to the longitudinal beams I3, it is readily apparent that this member may be integrally formed with the longitudinal beams l3, or comprised with its side portions Na and Nb of two separate pieces, each of which can be connected at one end to a longitudinal beam l3 and with their opposite adjacent ends connected together at the apex portion I8 of the member 11.

Thus, although the invention has been described With respect to a preferred embodiment thereof it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a chassis for a tractor vehicle having a pair of spaced longitudinal side frame members, withsaid vehicle having a rear bumper supported on said frame members and a body terminating inwardly of said rear bumper, means for supporting a hitch portion, adapted to be connected with a trailer vehicle, adjacent to and above the level of said rear bumper comprising an angular member joined at each base end thereof with a longitudinal member and extended rearwardly from said longitudinal members Within the confines of said rear bumper, with the apex portion of said angular member being at the longitudinal central axis of said chassis and adjacent the inher side of said rear bumper, a lateral member connected between the base ends of said angular member and constituting a base therefor, and a longitudinally extending supporting member secured to said lateral member and to said angular member at the apex portion thereof, with a vertically extended opening being formed through said supporting member and said apex portion adapted to receive said hitch portion therethrough.

2-. A chassis for a tractor vehicle, said chassis comprising a pair of spaced longitudinal beams and a transverse beam connected between the corresponding rear ends of said longitudinal beams, a channel-shaped angular frame member having the base ends thereof spaced a distance apart to provide for each of said ends being secured to a corresponding rear end of a longituportion in a parallel relation with said longitudinal beams, a plate member of a triangular shape corresponding to the angle of said angular member and secured to said supporting member and angular member at said apex portion, with said plate member, angular member and supporting member having a vertical opening therethrough at said apex portion for receiving a hitch portion adapted to be connected with a trailer vehicle.

CHARLES E. SCHULING. 

